The purpose of a roof is to keep outside debris from penetrating a house. When given the proper maintenance and repair services, roofs can last anywhere from 20 to 100 years. The longevity of your roof will depend on its type and maintenance. It’ll also depend on how well you can identify costly issues before they worsen. As small as they may seem, roof leaks can be disastrous to your entire home. Over time, it can weaken the entire structure and cause a collapse.
Finding a leak is simple enough, but figuring out how it happened can be difficult. Below, you’ll find 10 of the most common reasons behind roof leaks.
1. Cracked Flashing
Flashing resembles the metal plates that cover the gaps and spaces of a roof. Its purpose is to create an air-tight seal to prevent water from intruding into your home.
Over time, roof flashing can become damaged.
This will allow water to seep in, even if your gutters are working perfectly. It’s important to request regular roof maintenance and other residential roofing services to check on this dilemma.
This way, you can be sure your roof flashing is intact and won’t contribute to any leaks in the future.
2. Your Roof is Full of Broken Shingles
Like roof flashing, the purpose of shingles is also to prevent water from seeping into your home. More importantly, shingles lock into each other to form an impenetrable blanket on top of your home.
If you live in regions of the United States where rainstorms are frequent, your roof may be missing several shingles. Also, shingles can become damaged and even fall off over time.
When this happens, rainwater can find its way into the cracks broken and fallen shingles leave behind.
3. Improperly Sealed Valleys
A valley is a slope in a roof where two planes come together. It usually doesn’t matter how tightly sealed your shingles are. If your roof’s valleys aren’t properly sealed, rainwater can get under the shingles.
If you suspect that your roof valleys aren’t sealed correctly, it’s best to hire a professional to repair the issue.
4. The Vent Booting Is Damaged
Roof vents resemble small pipes, almost like a chimney. The purpose of a roof vent is to remove unnecessary moisture from under a roofing structure.
When damage happens to the vent booting, leaks can occur. This will normally result in dark spots around the around and a nearby musty odor.
To repair this issue, a roofing specialist must first remove the booting. Next, they’ll need to reseal the structure properly to prevent any more leaks.
5. There is an Ice Dam on Your Roof
Just like a normal dam, an ice dam prevents water from naturally running off your roof. During below-freezing temperatures, snow can form on your roof.
The heat from your home or attic can cause the snow to melt rapidly and flood your roof. Finally, the water will freeze again and form a dam.
Any time you see icicles on the edge of your roof and gutters, there is likely an ice dam present. The sheer weight of this ice can damage your roof and cause a leak sometime in the future.
6. Your Skylights Weren’t Installed Correctly
The purpose of skylights is to provide ventilation for a home. Sometimes, skylights can leak around their edges. If this happens, then your skylight wasn’t installed properly.
Though, if there are leaks near the top of your skylight, you may have a flashing issue instead. Skylight leaks can severely damage your roof.
This is because the skylight itself already provides easy entry to your home. Once water gets inside, it will continue pouring until you fix the issue.
7. Your Roof Has Clogged Gutters
Clogged gutters are one of the most common causes of a roof leak. The purpose of roof gutters is to filter water from your roof onto the ground, away from your home.
When you have clogged gutters, water will pool and remain on your roof. Eventually, the water will seep into small cracks in your roof and find its way into your home.
This is why it’s important to regularly clean your gutters. If they are falling off your home, your gutters will need to be repaired immediately.
8. A Cracked Chimney Is Leaking Water
There are many ways to seal a chimney on top of a roof. Some professionals use flashing. Many others use mortar to create an air-tight seal around a chimney.
The chief ingredients for this kind of mortar are cement, water, and sand.
This mixture can easily erode over time and leave your chimney exposed to leaking water.
Chimney leaks can come through mortar cracks, usually around the mud cap. Once you identify the issue, you’ll need to replace the damaged mortar.
Hiring a roofing specialist is the best way to make sure the job gets done properly.
9. Your Attic Isn’t Being Ventilated Properly
Your attic serves as the uppermost extension of your home. Therefore, it’s subjected to both the comfortable conditions inside your home and extreme temperatures on the outside.
Most times, condensation can collect in your attic. This can contribute to mildew and mold growth. Both can damage your roof can lead to leaks.
You can usually spot an issue like this by entering your attic. If you smell a musty odor and notice high humidity, then you’ll need to ventilate your attic properly.
10. You’re Climbing on Your Roof Too Much
A simple reason why your roof may be leaking is that you’ve been climbing it too much. Whether you’re doing it for fun or making repairs, remember that your shingles are fragile.
If you make the wrong step, you can risk cracking your shingles and allowing excess water to come inside your home.
Got Any Roof Leaks?
Roof leaks can contribute to long-term damage that can cost you a lot of money in repair services. Be mindful of things such as leaking chimneys or skylights, and repair damage before it gets worse.
If your roof has been damaged, then contact us today to receive a free quote and learn more about our commercial roofing services.
